Ricoh FF-1 - so good I bought a second one

giganova said:
You never hear of FF failing because nobody has them 😀
Click to expand...

lol. I just picked up my 3rd on ebay for $35. It's actually the Sears Mini 35 rebadge - thank you Chris for reminding me of those!
Money back guarantee so if it is a brick I'll send it back.

Ok, the worst thing about these cameras is changing the foam light seals. I hate doing that, I need to cut my own from a sheet I bought, it is messy, fiddly etc and I always swear I'll never buy another vintage camera after doing one.

Oh well, here I go again..
 
I pulled my Minox 35GT-E out of the box where it's been sitting for a decade. Along with its dedicated flash unit, close up lens, and copy stand. All are in perfect working condition, as all of mine have always been. This one I bought new in about 1997, I think.

I used to carry it literally constantly, back in the day, and probably shot a couple of rolls of film a week with it until the early '00s. Never had any problem with it.

I've loaded it with a roll of HP5 and have it in my cycling bag now, so it will get used again. Perfect size camera for that purpose!

Oh yes: It's a double stroke wind for the film, not a single stroke. 🙂

G
 
I bought two more Minox 35 ML last week, both in "mint" condition and looking fabulous, but both have the same issue: light meter works, LEDs come on and exposure time sounds correct when I cock the film advance only once. When I cock the film advance one more time, no more LEDs and the exposure sounds way too short.

So for the record: I bought 12 (!) Minox 35 over the past two years, all in EX+ or MINT condition, and none worked! I'm done with that crap.
 
giganova said:
I bought two more Minox 35 ML last week, both in "mint" condition and looking fabulous, but both have the same issue: light meter works, LEDs come on and exposure time sounds correct when I cock the film advance only once. When I cock the film advance one more time, no more LEDs and the exposure sounds way too short.

So for the record: I bought 12 (!) Minox 35 over the past two years, all in EX+ or MINT condition, and none worked! I'm done with that crap.
Click to expand...

I'd sell you mine, but it would likely stop working. And it's too nice a camera to lose that way... 😀

G
 
Huss said:
lol. I just picked up my 3rd on ebay for $35. It's actually the Sears Mini 35 rebadge - thank you Chris for reminding me of those!
Money back guarantee so if it is a brick I'll send it back.

Ok, the worst thing about these cameras is changing the foam light seals. I hate doing that, I need to cut my own from a sheet I bought, it is messy, fiddly etc and I always swear I'll never buy another vintage camera after doing one.

Oh well, here I go again..
Click to expand...

The Sears Mini35 came in today. Rebadged FF1-S. The only difference between it and the FF1 is the selftimer and iso placement.

And, like all the others, it works perfectly.

 
Godfrey said:
Nice.

Seven frames to go on my roll of HP5 in the Minox GT-E ... 😀

Thank you for reminding me about this camera. I'm really enjoying having it out and shooting again!

G
Click to expand...

Man that is a good looking camera!
Cameras like this are just so fun to use and give great results.
 
Huss said:
I have no idea. But I hope so! They are very nicely made, the one "issue" is that the VFs become a little hazy - just like my M4-2 (which I cleaned). No hints anywhere how to open up the camera so I have not bothered as it works fine and does not effect actual shooting. Plus I'd hate for something to break while a cleaning attempt is made.
Click to expand...

Inspired by you, Huss, I dug mine out, changed the light seals, and tried to get to the finder which is fogged on mine, too. I got the top cover off but the finder is underneath a flexible circuit board which seems to be soldered to stuff on both sides, and even so it is unclear if the finder is a closed unit. I gave up.
 
retinax said:
Inspired by you, Huss, I dug mine out, changed the light seals, and tried to get to the finder which is fogged on mine, too. I got the top cover off but the finder is underneath a flexible circuit board which seems to be soldered to stuff on both sides, and even so it is unclear if the finder is a closed unit. I gave up.
Click to expand...

Yeah they all are hazy, but still totally useable so I have accepted that that is how it is.
Doesn't effect the output!
 
It would be kinda cool to get a broken one, open it up and see if the vf can be cleaned.
But the cheapest one on ebay is $40 (including shipping) which is kinda pricey for a 'cheap' broken camera.
I was looking more at $5...
This one looks like it took a swim.
 
I cleaned the finder. There is a small electronic board you have to remove. Underneath that board there is some kind of strong black tape which is the housing for the finder. Peel that tape off, clean the finder‘s lenses and you‘re done.
 
Haha there's an answer to almost every question on RFF! Good to know, I might venture in there again. It is foggy enough to put me off using it (along with the unfortunate lack of a proper distance scale).
 
Huss said:
It would be kinda cool to get a broken one, open it up and see if the vf can be cleaned.
Click to expand...
I took one of my Minox ML apart because it was broken anyway. Easy to disassemble and putting it back together. But OMG, its all super flimsy plastic inside, nothing of substance. No wonder that they break so easily. Or I should better say: getting out of alignment. The fatigue of the thin material is what kills them. Most screws are tiny plastic screws into tiny plastic threads. You take out a screw and it will never be secure again and needs Locktite to hold in place. With skills, you can bend things back into shape again, but that requires knowing how things are supposed to be. They are build to such low specs that barely makes them work in the first place! 😀
 
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